In brief

James Johnson, aged 19, of The Birches, Cheadle, and Martin Simpson, aged 22, of High Street, Cheadle, admitted the charge when they appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday.

Simpson also admitted assaulting Darren Rutter and Johnson admitted using threatening words or behaviour on the same date.

They will be sentenced after reports are prepared by a probation officer. Their bail was extended.

LEEK: Teenager Paul Rea has pleaded guilty to an affray on September 14.

But the 19-year-old, of Queen Street, Leek, denied assaulting Sam Bond on the same date.

Rea will be sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after a report is prepared on him by a probation officer.

He was remanded in custody.

BURSLEM: A 23-year-old man has been jailed for six months by District Judge David Taylor after he admitted racially aggravated assault on Mohammed Kafeel at Burslem on September 14.

Anthony Shenton, of Edge Street, Burslem, had originally entered a not guilty plea to the offence.

TRENT VALE: Police are hunting a man who failed to turn up at court. District Judge David Taylor issued a warrant without bail for Terry Bourne, aged 29, of Collin Road, Trent Vale, who failed to turn up for his hearing at North Staffordshire Magistrates Court charged with failing to comply with the community requirement of a suspended sentence order.

NEWCASTLE: After pleading not guilty to an offence of assaulting Andrew Salisbury on November 22 this year at Audley, Brendan Stockton, aged 32, of Liverpool Road, Red Street, Newcastle, will go on trial at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre, on January 29. He was bailed.

WETLEY ROCKS: Robert Harvey, aged 27, of Rownall Road, Wetley Rocks, will be sentenced at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre, Newcastle, on December 14 after he admitted drink driving and driving while disqualified.

WERRINGTON: Andrew Evans, aged 35, of James Crescent, Werrington, has denied a charge of dangerous driving on July 14. His trial will be held at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on February 13.